Mr. Tassara to Mr. Seward
My Dear Sir: I have had the honor to receive your communication of the 2d instant, in reply to that which I had previously addressed to you upon transmitting another from the Marques de Miraflores, on the subject of the passengers who, in the year last past, left New Orleans on board our ships-of-war.
Referring to the communication which I made to you on December 13, when transmitting to you the explanations of the captain general of Cuba, you were pleased to say to me, “that communication was conceived and expressed in the same liberal and friendly spirit which has marked all my relations with this government, and that its contents were not dwelt upon because it was extra official.”
Nothing, in truth, is more certain than that, always in accord with my government, during my already long continued relations with the United States, I have been constantly guided by the friendly dispositions with which I feel myself animated towards this country, no less than by the desire to smooth down and bring to happy issue the grave questions which have been springing up between both governments, and that my communication referred to, of December 13, was dictated by the same friendly dispositions and the same desire.
It is, nevertheless, besides fully adopting and dwelling upon the import of the explanations of the authorities of Cuba, I reserved to my government any question of principle, and official or extra official, I do not think there can be any reason for not making such use of it as may seem fitting.
The Marquis of Miraflores, now having before him all the data, has thought proper to address to me the communication of which I made report to you in mine of July 5, and on transmitting it to you, I believed that, in virtue of the principles which are invoked in it, the question would be adjusted. My confidence was the greater, inasmuch as the marquis, whose friendly dispositions towards this government are also evident to you, at once offers satisfaction, in so far as he has considered that he ought to give it.
Regretting, therefore, that you may have believed yourself called on to insist in the matter, what pertains to me to do is the same that I have done to this time, that is to say, to transmit your communication to Madrid, and refer myself to my government, desiring and hoping that the incident at New Orleans, [Page 996] because, really, it deserves no other name, may not produce the least alteration in our good relations.
I avail of this occasion to reiterate to you the assurance of my highest consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c.